Gosford TAFE redevelopment ignored in Budget

The Minns Labor Government says it is taking critical steps to strengthen the skills sector with a record $2.5 billion budget investment in TAFE NSW.

It says, “In respect of TAFE the Budget provides more pay for TAFE teachers and continues to address years of neglected infrastructure to ensure teachers and learners have access to modern facilities and teaching equipment.”

This includes $190 million to undertake urgent repairs at campuses across the State.

No mention is made in the Budget as to a media release in late May that international real estate and property management corporation, JLL will partner with TAFE Infrastructure NSW to deliver an extensive infrastructure program for the statewide TAFE NSW Campuses.

JLL’s Project and Development Services division in NSW has been awarded a government contract to oversee a $104 million extensive programme of capital works at 138 TAFE campuses across the state.

Asked by CCBR to comment as to whether the Gosford Campus was part of the programme, JLL has not responded.

In early November 2021 Landcom announced that it would investigate building a new state-of-the-art TAFE campus in Gosford to replace the present ageing campus and redevelop the old site for affordable housing.

The Liberal Government’s Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Geoff Lee along with Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, and Landcom CEO John Brogden came to Gosford to make the announcement.  The Minister said the entire project would cost more than $100 million.

“This will be a sensational result for Gosford, but we have to get the planning right.”

He said an expanded TAFE presence in the CBD would likely see an expansion of courses on offer to meet the future needs of the region.

Mr Crouch commented that it was part of developing Gosford as a major educational precinct and said, “this proposal will also integrate TAFE NSW with the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music providing them with a permanent home and secure future.

Landcom CEO, John Brogden, said the CBD “desperately needs” an upgrade and a revitalised TAFE campus and housing opportunities would be a huge boost.

“We have found that CBD projects such as this require not just offices, but housing,” he said.

“We estimate that up to 10 per cent of this mixed housing will be rental accommodation for students and CBD workers.

“We hope purchasers will be buying residences off the plan within three years.”

Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart, said it was ironic that such an opportunity had arisen “out of chaos”, with the new development sure to provide massive job opportunities and a link to the nearby waterfront.

Subsequently, the Government closed all conversation about the project and left Central Coast Council in the dark as to their intentions with the sale.

With the election of the Minns Government in March 2023 it was expected that the project would be progressed.  However, the new Government has gone quiet on the project.